Editing Paterson, New Jersey (section)

==Emergency services==
The City of Paterson is served by the [[Paterson Police Department (New Jersey)|Paterson Police Department]].<ref>[http://www.patersonnj.gov/department/index.php?fDD=5-0 Paterson Police Department], City of Paterson. Accessed November 14, 2011.</ref>

The [[Paterson Fire Department]], headed by Chief Brian McDermott, operates out of seven fire stations with a total of 400 employees and is also responsible for the city's [[emergency medical services]] division and ambulance units.<ref>[http://www.patersonfiredept.com/about/ About] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405004225/http://www.patersonfiredept.com/about/ |date=April 5, 2012 }}, Paterson Fire Department. Accessed May 3, 2012.</ref> The department is part of the Metro [[Urban search and rescue|USAR]] Strike Team, which consists of nine North Jersey fire departments and other emergency services divisions working to address major emergency rescue situations.<ref>Steadman, Andrew. [http://www.nj.com/bayonne/index.ssf/2012/05/bayonne_firefighters_participa.html "Bayonne firefighters participate in mock disaster drills in Newark"], ''[[The Jersey Journal]]'', May 1, 2012. Accessed June 6, 2016. "According to the press release, the Metro USAR Strike Team is made up of nine fire departments from Bayonne, Elizabeth, Hackensack, Hoboken, Jersey City, Newark, Paterson, Morristown as well as the five-municipality North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue Agency."</ref>

In addition to local services, Paterson is home to the Passaic County [[Sheriffs in the United States|Sheriff's]] Office Courts Division in the Passaic County Courthouse and Correctional Division in the Passaic County Jail. The jail, originally constructed in 1957, can accommodate 1,242 inmate beds.<ref>[http://www.pcsheriff.org/passaic-county-jail.html Passaic County Jail], Passaic County Sheriff's Office. Accessed December 10, 2014. "Originally constructed in 1957, the Passaic County Jail was built to accommodate 227 beds. Over the years, the jail has undergone many changes. The facility now consists of 4 floors and has a 1242 inmate bed capacity."</ref>

In April 2011, Paterson laid off 125 police officers, nearly 25% of the total force in the city, due to severe budget constraints caused by a $70 million deficit.<ref>Patberg, Zach. [http://www.northjersey.com/news/041811_Paterson_layoff_of_125_police_officers_draws_protests.html "Paterson layoff of 125 police officers draws protests"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', April 18, 2011. Accessed September 4, 2011.</ref> At the same time, the [[Guardian Angels]], a New York City–based volunteer citizen safety patrol organization, began operating in Paterson at the invitation of the Mayor.<ref>Lynn, Kathleen. [http://www.northjersey.com/news/041711_Guardian_Angels_begin_Paterson_patrols.html "Guardian Angels begin Paterson patrols"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', April 17, 2011. Accessed September 4, 2011. "Responding to the layoffs of 125 Paterson police officers, the New York City-based Guardian Angels began patrols in the city Sunday. The Guardian Angels arrived in Paterson on Sunday to begin patrolling the city. The 18 Angels, in signature red jackets and berets, were greeted in front of City Hall by Mayor Jeffery Jones, who had invited the volunteer safety patrol organization in February as the city's budget problems deepened."</ref>

St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center is a large institution providing comprehensive emergency services as well as non-emergency medical care to Paterson and the surrounding community.<ref>[http://www.stjosephshealth.org/index.php/sjrmc-home-page Home page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902081614/http://www.stjosephshealth.org/index.php/sjrmc-home-page |date=September 2, 2011 }}, St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center. Accessed September 4, 2011.</ref>

=== State takeover of police department ===
The [[New Jersey Attorney General]] took over control of the Paterson Police Department on March 27, 2023, after the fatal police shooting of Najee Seabrooks.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tully |first=Tracey |date=2023-03-27 |title=N.J. Attorney General Seizes Control of Paterson Police Department |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/27/nyregion/nj-attorney-general-paterson-police.html |access-date=2023-05-08 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Attorney General [[Matthew Platkin]] criticized the "revolving door"  of police leadership in Paterson, which has resulted in dysfunction within police ranks and a lack of trust in local law enforcement.<ref name="Greene">{{Cite web |last=Greene |first=Jonathan |date=2023-03-27 |title=New Jersey attorney general assumes control of Paterson police force |url=https://patersontimes.com/2023/03/27/new-jersey-attorney-general-assumes-control-of-paterson-police-force/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Paterson Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Platkin's comments alluded to the challenges created by frequent turnover at the top of the police department and the negative impact it has had on community relations.<ref name="Greene"/> Mayor Sayegh has fired two police chiefs: Troy Oswald in 2020<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rahman |first=Jayed |date=2020-01-30 |title=Paterson bids farewell to its popular police chief Troy Oswald |url=https://patersontimes.com/2020/01/30/paterson-bids-farewell-to-its-popular-police-chief-troy-oswald/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Paterson Times |language=en-US}}</ref> and Mike Baycora in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=NJ.com |first=Richard Cowen {{!}} NJ Advance Media for |date=2022-09-13 |title=Paterson officials fire police chief, allege he slept in meetings as crime surged |url=https://www.nj.com/passaic-county/2022/09/paterson-officials-fire-police-chief-allege-he-slept-in-meetings-as-crime-surged.html |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=nj |language=en}}</ref>